Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Gaborik Scores Two More As Rangers Top Devils 4-1


The New York Rangers continued to find ways to rack up points with a 4-1 victory against the New Jersey Devils that was not nearly as lopsided as the final score would indicate.  The Rangers scored late in the second period to tie it up and added three more in the final period for their 19th win of the season.

Marian Gaborik had two goals, and assist on the evening recording his 600th career point as well.  The two goals give Gaborik four in two games and 19 for the season leaving him only three goals shy of last season’s total. 

Gaborik took a huge hit from Anton Volchenkov in the neutral zone, but made the pass to Derek Stepan who broke down the right side and made a beautiful pass across to Artem Anisimov for the tying goal.  Gaborik broke the tie converting on an Artem Anisimov rebound early in the third and capped the scoring with empty-netter.

The score alone won’t show just how huge Henrik Lundqvist was tonight, but his teammates recognized his work by giving him the hat tonight.  Lundqvist made 30 saves in all, including a number of huge ones during the first two periods when the team was outshot 20-8.

Carl Hagelin continued to impress as well scoring another shorthanded goal when he broke in down the right side and beat Brodeur with a beautiful shot short side.
  • Girardi was a beast all night again.
  • Bickel was solid and did a good job standing up for Hagelin when Clarkson took liberties.
  • Dubinsky, while still not finishing, was much better tonight.